Pirates through to CAF last 16

Orlando Pirates advanced to the last 16 of the CAF Champions League with a 2-1 victory (3-1 on aggregate) over Zanaco at FNB stadium on Saturday.

Pirates came into the last 32 second leg match with a 1-0 lead from the first leg against the Zambian champions played in Lusaka on March 16.

The opening goal of the encounter came through a stunning effort from Khethowakhe Masuku in the 18th minute. Masuku produced a wonder left-footed first-time strike from 25 metres out to make it 1-0 to Pirates, after Zanaco had failed to clear a loose ball on the edge of the area.

Andile Jali went over in the 20th minute with what looked like an ankle injury and played no further part in the game.

Masuku nearly doubled the advantage in the 31st minute, from a similar position from where he scored, this time running with the ball, and unleashing a shot with his right foot that had the Zanaco keeper beaten, but the ball drifted just wide.

Zanaco scored the equaliser in the 48th minute through a headed goal from Musonda Mwape. Mwape had a free run in the box and made no mistake in finding the back of the net from close range, to level up the match and lurk a single goal behind Pirates on aggregate.

Mpho Makola, however, sealed the aggregate victory for Pirates with a perfectly taken setpiece in the 76th minute. From 30 metres out, Makola took a free kick and struck it perfectly to curl the ball into the top right corner and made it 2-1 to Pirates on the night.

-by Sapa

August 2017

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